PEARSON, Frank, Alias GORDON, Frank, Alias PRG 95 PELLY, Major P.F., Alias "STARLIGHT" Series List

PEARSON, Frank, alias GORDON, Frank, alias PRG 95 PELLY, Major P.F., alias "STARLIGHT" Series List When Major Patrick F. Pelly died in Perth on December 1899 of a dose of cyanide, much information about his prior life came to light. Major Pelly had gone under many names, and the name Pelly had been taken from a former prison mate from Queensland. When Major P.F. Pelly died, the real Pelly came forward with information as to the identity of this person. The facts of his life as told by him to the real P.F. Pelly in a Queensland penal institution in 1887 where 'starlight' (as he was called) was serving a 15 or 18 month prison sentence. His proper name was Frank Simpson and he was born in Mexico in 1837 of a Spanish mother and Irish father. He received a great part of his education at the Propaganda, Rome, which accounts for his interest in literature. He left after his mother's death and came to Australia. In 1864, he joined a gang of bushrangers of which he became the leader and was aptly known as "Starlight". The group later split up as he objected to blood shed. From that time onwards, "Starlight" was associated with a young man by the name of Rutherford. After shooting a policeman in self defence, he was captured and sentenced to death which was later commuted to life imprisonment. He served 16 years, 4 months (the first three being in irons) in Parramatta and Darlinghurst gaols and was released in 1884. Starlight was a man of 5 foot 7" tall, with a sallow complexion, long face, high straight forehead, iron grey hair (stiff and standing up without a parting), large eyes and strong- jointed hands. He had a passionate and impulsive temperament, fierce when angered and affectionate when quiet. This complex man, after being freed from the Queensland prison worked on Ucolta Station in the employ of Mr. Ellis E. Kernot. He later moved to Western Australia and in 1896 he became a clerk in the Geological Department, Public Service in Perth. It was here that he assumed the name of Pelly. To his friends and acquaintances he did not speak easily of his earlier life, but he had mentioned that he had attained the rank of major in the army and he showed his bullet wounds to support his story. When he died, many thought that he was the "Starlight" referred to in Boldrewood's "Robbery Under Arms", but Boldrewood denies this. Nevertheless, he was the "Starlight" referred to in Adam L. Gordon's poem, "The Sick School Note". _______________________________________________________________________ PRG 95 Series list Page 1 of 2 Letters and statements written by Major P.F. Pelly (including 1 envelopes). They were addressed to R. Fraser, E.E. Kernot, and Sir W. Pelly. February-March 1896. 10 items. 1cm. Newspaper articles relating to the exploits of "Starlight", the 2 bushranger, alias Major P.F. Pelly in various newspapers, (some are not dated). 1934-62. 0.5cm. Information on Major P.F. Pelly written by Ellis E. Kernot's daughter. 3 n.d. 1 item. 0.1cm. Photocopy of caricature (original in colour) of Major P.F. Pelly, 4 E.E. Kernot and R. Faser, also including copy of song. n.d. 0.25cm. Photographs of horses associated with Major P.F. Pelly, 15 x 11cm. 5 n.d. 2 items. 0.1cm. Photographs of McCoy's Well Station. (identified). 6 17 x 21.5cm. 1903-1905. 8 items. 1cm. PRG 95 Series list Page 2 of 2 .

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